Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-06-17
I. SHE \
N.HiStorz- Of: Hd2ehture
By ]. RIDER HAeeARD.

On the following day Leo got up, almost
entirely recovered The flesh wound in his
side WINS healed, and his constitution, natur-
ally vigorous one, had shaken of the ex-
haustion consequent on his terrible fever with
rapidity that / can only attribute to tho
effects Of the wonderful drug which Ayesha
had given TO him, anu also 10 the fact that his
illness had been too short to reduce him very
much. With his returning health came back
full recollection Of all his adventures up to the
time when he had lest consciousness in tho
marsh, and of course OF Ustane also, to whom
discovered no had grown considerably Mt
tached. Indeed, he overwhelmed me with
question: about the poor girl, which did not
dare to answer, for after Leo's first Weakening
She had sent for me, and again warned me
solemnly that was to reveal nothing of the
story TO him, delicately limiting that if did
1t would be the worse for me. She also, for
the second time, cautioned me not to tell Leo
anything more than was obliged about her.
self, saying that she would tell him in her own
time.
Indeed, her whole manner changed. After
all that had seen / had expected that she
would take the earliest opportunity of claim
ing the man she believed TO be her old world
lover; but this, for some reason of her own,
which was at the time quite inscrutable to me,
she did not do. All that she did was to at
tend to his wants quietly, and with a humility
TINT was in striking contrast with her former
imperious bearing, addressing him always in
a tone of something very like respect, and
keeping him with her as much as possible. or
course his curiosity was ns much excited about
this mysterious woman asmy own had been,
and he was particularly anxious to see her
face, which l had, without entering into par
ticulars, told him was as lovely as her form
and voice. This in itself was enough TO raise
the expectations OF any young man TO a
dangerous pitch, and had 1t not been that he
had not as yet completely shaken off the
effects OF illness, and was much troubled in
his mind about Ustane, of whose affection and
brave devotion he spoke in touching terms, I
have no doubt that he would have entered
into her plans and fallen in love with her by
anticipation. As 1t was, however, he was
simply wildly curious, aud also, like myself,
considerably awed, for though no hint had
been given 10 him by her Of her extraordi-
nary age, henot unnstrally came to identify
her with the woman spoken Of on the pots
herd. At last, quite driven into corner by
his continual questions, which he showered
ON me while he was dressing on this third
morning, 1 referred him to Ayesha, saying,
with perfect truth, that did not know where
Ustane was, Accordingly, after no had eaten
a hearty breakfast, we adjourned into Shes
presence, for her mutes had orders to admit
us at all hours.
She was, as usual, seated in what, for want
of better term, we called her boudoir, and
on the curtains being drawn she rose from
her couch and, stretching out both hands,
came forward to greet us, or rather Leo; for
/, as may be imagined, was now quite left in
the cold. 1t was pretty sight to SEQ her
yelled form gliding toward the sturdy young
Englishman, dressed in his gray flannel suit,
for though he is half Greek in blood, Leo
is, with the exception of his hair, one of the
NEST English looking men ever saw. Ho
has nothing Of the supple form or slippery
manner Of tho modern Greek about him,
though psesume that he got bis remarkable
personal beauty from his foreign mother,
whose portrait he resembles not little. He
is very tall and big chested and yet not
awkward, as SO many big men are, and his
head is set upon him in such fashion as to
give him a proud and vigorous air, which
was well translated in his Amahaggur name
of the Lion.
"Greeting to thee, my young stranger lord,n
she said. in her softest voice. "Right glad
am to see thee upon thy feet Believe me,
had not saved thee at the last, never wouldst
thou have stood upon those feet again. But
the danger is done, and it shall be my careD-
and she flung world of meaning into tho
words-"that it doth never retsrn again.
Ion hnxvat IN hon. aud fho,n q, Ito lagk
Arabic, thanked her for all her kindness and
courtesy in caring for one unknown to her.
"Nay," she answered, softly, all could tho
world spare such man. Beauty Is too rare
upon it, Give me no thanks, who am made
happy by thy coming"
"Humphl old fellow said Master Leo, aside
to me in English, "the lady is uncommonly
civil We seem to have tumbled into clover.
hope you have made the most of your OPP
portunities. By jovel what pair of arms
she has gotlp
Inudged him in the ribs to make him keep
quiet, for ! caught sight of CLEAN from
Ayesha's hidden eye regarding me curiously
u trust" went OH Ayesha, Hthat my SER
wants have attended well upon thee; il there
can be comfort in this poor place, be surc it
waits ON thee. Is there ought that can do
Tor thee moreF
ayes, oh, She" answered Leo, hastily. II
would fnin know where the young lady who
was looking after me has gone to-"
"Ah," said Ayesha; "the girl-yes, saw
heE Nay, l know not; she said that she
would go. know not whittier Perchance
she will return, perchance not 1t Is weari-
some waiting on the sick, and these savage
women are tickle"
Leo looked both sulky and distressed at
his intelligence.
ats infeQally odd, he said to me, in Eng
llsh; and then addressing She, u cannot
understand" he said; "tho young lady and
l-well, you know exactly-in short, we
Ind a regard for each other.n
Ayesha laughed little, very unsteady, and
tEon turned the subject
CHAPTER XIX.
w. "GIvE ME A BLACK GOAT"
The conversation after thia ,vaa ~ e,,oh a